Finite groups with generalized subnormal embedding of Sylow subgroups

Given a set π of primes and a hereditary saturated formation F, we study the properties of the class of groups G for which the identity subgroup and all Sylow p-subgroups are F-subnormal (K-F-subnormal) in G for each p in π. We show that such a class is a hereditary saturated formation and find its maximal inner local screen. Some criteria are obtained for the membership of a group in a hereditary saturated formation in terms of its formation subnormal Sylow subgroups.     

On the length of a finite group and of its 2-generator subgroups

The nonsoluble length λ(G) of a finite group G is defined as the minimum number of nonsoluble factors in a normal series of G each of whose quotients either is soluble or is a direct product of nonabelian simple groups. The generalized Fitting height of a finite group G is the least number h = h* (G) such that F* _h (G) = G, where F* ₁ (G) = F* (G) is the generalized Fitting subgroup, and F* _i+1(G) is the inverse image of F* (G/F*_i (G)). In the present paper we prove that if λ(J) ≤ k for every 2-generator subgroup J of G, then λ(G) ≤ k. It is conjectured that if h* (J) ≤ k for every 2-generator subgroup J, then h* (G) ≤ k. We prove that if h* (〈x, x^g 〉) ≤ k for allx, g ∈ G such that 〈x, x^g 〉 is soluble, then h* (G) is k-bounded.     

Expanding operators for the independent set problem

The notion is introduced of an expanding operator for the independent set problem. This notion is a useful tool for the constructive formation of new cases with the efficient solvability of this problem in the family of hereditary classes of graphs and is applied to hereditary parts of the set Free({P ₅, C ₅}). It is proved that if for a connected graph G the problem is polynomial-time solvable in the class Free({P ₅, C ₅,G}) then it remains so in the class Free({P ₅, C ₅,G ○ \(\bar K_2 \), G ⊕ K _1,p ) for every p. We also find two new hereditary subsets of Free({P ₅, C ₅}) with polynomially solvable independent set problem that are not a corollary of applying the revealed operators.     

Length-type parameters of finite groups with almost unipotent automorphisms

Let α be an automorphism of a finite group G. For a positive integer n, let E _G,n (α) be the subgroup generated by all commutators [...[[x,α],α],…,α] in the semidirect product G 〈α〉 over x ∈ G, where α is repeated n times. By Baer’s theorem, if E _G,n (α)=1, then the commutator subgroup [G,α] is nilpotent. We generalize this theorem in terms of certain length parameters of E _G,n (α). For soluble G we prove that if, for some n, the Fitting height of E _G,n (α) is equal to k, then the Fitting height of [G,α] is at most k + 1. For nonsoluble G the results are in terms of the nonsoluble length and generalized Fitting height. The generalized Fitting height h*(H) of a finite group H is the least number h such that F _h* (H) = H, where F ₀* (H) = 1, and F _i+1* (H) is the inverse image of the generalized Fitting subgroup F*(H/F _i *(H)). Let m be the number of prime factors of the order |α| counting multiplicities. It is proved that if, for some n, the generalized Fitting height E _G,n (α) of is equal to k, then the generalized Fitting height of [G,α] is bounded in terms of k and m. The nonsoluble length λ(H) of a finite group H is defined as the minimum number of nonsoluble factors in a normal series each of whose factors either is soluble or is a direct product of nonabelian simple groups. It is proved that if λE _G,n (α)= k, then the nonsoluble length of [G,α] is bounded in terms of k and m. We also state conjectures of stronger results independent of m and show that these conjectures reduce to a certain question about automorphisms of direct products of finite simple groups.     

On <Emphasis Type="Italic">MP</Emphasis>-closed saturated formations of finite groups

A class of groups F is called MP-closed, if it contains every group G = AB such that the F-subgroup A permutes with every subgroup of B and the F-subgroup B permutes with every subgroup of A. We prove that the formation F that contains the class of all supersoluble groups is MP-closed if and only if the formation F(p) is MP-closed for any prime number p, where F is a maximal inner local screen of F. In particular, we prove that the formation of all groups with supersoluble Schmidt subgroups is MP-closed.     

Subgraph Transversal of Graphs

Given graphs F and G, denote by \({\tau_F}(G)\) the cardinality of a smallest subset \(T {\subseteq}V(G)\) that meets every maximal F-free subgraph of G. Erdös, Gallai and Tuza [9] considered the question of bounding \(\tau_{\overline{K_2}}(G)\) by a constant fraction of |G|. In this paper, we will give a complete answer to the following question: for which F, is τ _F (G) bounded by a constant fraction of |G|?In addition, for those graphs F for which \({\tau_F}(G)\) is not bounded by any fraction of |G|, we prove that \(\tau_F(G)\le|G|-\frac{1}{2}\sqrt{|G|}+\frac{1}{2}\), provided F is not K _k or \(\overline{K_k}\).     

Ideal Spaces of Measurable Operators Affiliated to A Semifinite Von Neumann Algebra

Suppose that M is a von Neumann algebra of operators on a Hilbert space H and τ is a faithful normal semifinite trace on M. Let E, F and G be ideal spaces on (M, τ). We find when a τ-measurable operator X belongs to E in terms of the idempotent P of M. The sets E+F and E·F are also ideal spaces on (M, τ); moreover, E·F = F·E and (E+F)·G = E·G+F·G. The structure of ideal spaces is modular. We establish some new properties of the L₁(M, τ) space of integrable operators affiliated to the algebra M. The results are new even for the *-algebra M = B(H) of all bounded linear operators on H which is endowed with the canonical trace τ = tr.     

Positive-fraction intersection results and variations of weak epsilon-nets

A connected Finsler space (M, F) is said to be homogeneous if it admits a transitive connected Lie group G of isometries. A geodesic in a homogeneous Finsler space (G / H, F) is called a homogeneous geodesic if it is an orbit of a one-parameter subgroup of G. In this paper, we study the problem of the existence of homogeneous geodesics on a homogeneous Finsler space, and prove that any homogeneous Finsler space of odd dimension admits at least one homogeneous geodesic through each point.     

Dimension scales of bicompacta

We introduce the notion of a (stable) dimension scale d-sc(X) of a space X, where d is a dimension invariant. A bicompactum X is called dimensionally unified if dim F = dim_G F for every closed F ? X and for an arbitrary abelian group G. We prove that there exist dimensionally unified bicompacta with every given stable scale dim-sc.     

Edge-colouring of graphs and hereditary graph properties

Edge-colourings of graphs have been studied for decades. We study edge-colourings with respect to hereditary graph properties. For a graph G, a hereditary graph property P and l ? 1 we define \(X{'_{P,l}}\)(G) to be the minimum number of colours needed to properly colour the edges of G, such that any subgraph of G induced by edges coloured by (at most) l colours is in P. We present a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of \(X{'_{P,l}}\)(G). We focus on edge-colourings of graphs with respect to the hereditary properties O_k and S_k, where O_k contains all graphs whose components have order at most k+1, and S_k contains all graphs of maximum degree at most k. We determine the value of \(X{'_{{S_k},l}}(G)\) for any graph G, k ? 1, l ? 1, and we present a number of results on \(X{'_{{O_k},l}}(G)\).     

Ergodic theorems for coset spaces

We study in this paper the validity of the Mean Ergodic Theorem along left Følner sequences in a countable amenable group G. Although the Weak Ergodic Theorem always holds along any left Følner sequence in G, we provide examples where the Mean Ergodic Theorem fails in quite dramatic ways. On the other hand, if G does not admit any ICC quotients, e.g., if G is virtually nilpotent, then the Mean Ergodic Theorem holds along any left Følner sequence. In the case when a unitary representation of a countable amenable group is induced from a unitary representation of a “sufficiently thin” subgroup, we show that the Mean Ergodic Theorem holds for the induced representation along any left Følner sequence. Furthermore, we show that every countable (infinite) amenable group L embeds into a countable (not necessarily amenable) group G which admits a unitary representation with the property that for any left Følner sequence (F_n) in L, there exists a sequence (s_n) in G such that the Mean (but not the Weak) Ergodic Theorem fails in a rather strong sense along the (right-translated) sequence (F_ns_n) in G. Finally, we provide examples of countable (not necessarily amenable) groups G with proper, infinite-index subgroups H, so that the Pointwise Ergodic Theorem holds for averages along any strictly increasing and nested sequence of finite subsets of the coset G/H.     

Degree sum of a pair of independent edges and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Z</Emphasis><Subscript>3</Subscript>-connectivity

Let G be a 2-edge-connected simple graph on n vertices. For an edge e = uv ∈ E(G), define d(e) = d(u) + d(v). Let F denote the set of all simple 2-edge-connected graphs on n ≥ 4 vertices such that G ∈ F if and only if d(e) + d(e’) ≥ 2n for every pair of independent edges e, e’ of G. We prove in this paper that for each G ∈ F, G is not Z ₃-connected if and only if G is one of K _2,n?2, K _3,n?3, K _2,n?2 ⁺ , K _3,n?3 ⁺ or one of the 16 specified graphs, which generalizes the results of X. Zhang et al. [Discrete Math., 2010, 310: 3390–3397] and G. Fan and X. Zhou [Discrete Math., 2008, 308: 6233–6240].     

The boundary of the outer space of a free product

Let G be a countable group that splits as a free product of groups of the form G = G ₁ *···* G _k * F _N , where F _N is a finitely generated free group. We identify the closure of the outer space PO(G, {G ₁,..., G _k }) for the axes topology with the space of projective minimal, very small (G, {G ₁,..., G _k })-trees, i.e. trees whose arc stabilizers are either trivial, or cyclic, closed under taking roots, and not conjugate into any of the G _i ’s, and whose tripod stabilizers are trivial. Its topological dimension is equal to 3N + 2k ? 4, and the boundary has dimension 3N + 2k ? 5. We also prove that any very small (G, {G ₁,..., G _k })-tree has at most 2N + 2k?2 orbits of branch points.     

Conditional connectivity of bubble sort graphs

A subset F ? V (G) is called an R ^k -vertex-cut of a graph G if G ? F is disconnected and each vertex of G ? F has at least k neighbors in G ? F. The R ^k -vertex-connectivity of G, denoted by κ ^k (G), is the cardinality of a minimum R ^k -vertex-cut of G. Let B _n be the bubble sort graph of dimension n. It is known that κ _k (B _n ) = 2 ^k (n ? k ? 1) for n ≥ 2k and k = 1, 2. In this paper, we prove it for k = 3 and conjecture that it is true for all k ∈ N. We also prove that the connectivity cannot be more than conjectured.     

On recognizability of some finite simple orthogonal groups by spectrum

It is proved that, if G is a finite group that has the same set of element orders as the simple group D _p (q), where p is prime, p ≥ 5 and q ∈ {2, 3, 5}, then the commutator group of G/F(G) is isomorphic to D _p (q), the subgroup F(G) is equal to 1 for q = 5 and to O _q (G) for q ∈ {2, 3}, F(G) ≤ G′, and |G/G′| ≤ 2.     

Engel-type subgroups and length parameters of finite groups

Let g be an element of a finite group G. For a positive integer n, let E _n (g) be the subgroup generated by all commutators [...[[x, g], g],..., g] over x ∈ G, where g is repeated n times. By Baer’s theorem, if E _n (g) = 1, then g belongs to the Fitting subgroup F(G). We generalize this theorem in terms of certain length parameters of E _n (g). For soluble G we prove that if, for some n, the Fitting height of E _n (g) is equal to k, then g belongs to the (k+1)th Fitting subgroup F_k+1(G). For nonsoluble G the results are in terms of nonsoluble length and generalized Fitting height. The generalized Fitting height h*(H) of a finite group H is the least number h such that F_h* (H) = H, where F₀* (H) = 1, and F_i+1(H)* is the inverse image of the generalized Fitting subgroup F*(H/F*_i (H)). Let m be the number of prime factors of |g| counting multiplicities. It is proved that if, for some n, the generalized Fitting height of E _n (g) is equal to k, then g belongs to F*_f(k,m)(G), where f(k, m) depends only on k and m. The nonsoluble length λ(H) of a finite group H is defined as the minimum number of nonsoluble factors in a normal series each of whose factors either is soluble or is a direct product of nonabelian simple groups. It is proved that if λ(E _n (g)) = k, then g belongs to a normal subgroup whose nonsoluble length is bounded in terms of k and m. We also state conjectures of stronger results independent of m and show that these conjectures reduce to a certain question about automorphisms of direct products of finite simple groups.     

Generalized Skew Derivations Cocentralizing Multilinear Polynomials

Let R be a prime ring of characteristic different from 2, Q _r be its right Martindale quotient ring and C be its extended centroid. Suppose that F, G are generalized skew derivations of R and \({f(x_1, \ldots, x_n)}\) is a non-central multilinear polynomial over C with n non-commuting variables. If F and G satisfy the following condition:

$$F(f(r_1,\ldots, r_n))f(r_1, \ldots,r_n)-f(r_1,\ldots,r_n)G(f(r_1,\ldots, r_n))\in C$$

for all \({r_1, \ldots, r_n \in R}\), then we describe all possible forms of F and G.

     

On the Győry-Sárközy-Stewart conjecture in function fields

We consider function field analogues of the conjecture of Gy?ry, Sárközy and Stewart (1996) on the greatest prime divisor of the product (ab+1)(ac+1)(bc+1) for distinct positive integers a, b and c. In particular, we show that, under some natural conditions on rational functions F,G,H ∈ ?(X), the number of distinct zeros and poles of the shifted products FH +1 and GH +1 grows linearly with degH if degH > max{deg F, degG}. We also obtain a version of this result for rational functions over a finite field.     

Free groups and ends of graphs

Let X be a connected graph. An automorphism of X is said to be parabolic if it leaves no finite subset of vertices in X invariant and fixes precisely one end of X and hyperbolic if it leaves no finite subset of vertices in X invariant and fixes precisely two ends of X. Various questions concerning dynamics of parabolic and hyperbolic automorphisms are discussed.The set of ends which are fixed by some hyperbolic element of a group G acting on X is denoted by ?(G). If G contains a hyperbolic automorphism of X and G fixes no end of X, then G contains a free subgroup F such that ?(F) is dense in ?(G) with respect to the natural topology on the ends of X.As an application we obtain the following: A group which acts transitively on a connected graph and fixes no end has a free subgroup whose directions are dense in the end boundary.     

A criterion for the <Emphasis Type="Italic">F</Emphasis> <Subscript> <Emphasis Type="Italic">π</Emphasis> </Subscript>-residuality of free products with amalgamated cyclic subgroup of nilpotent groups of finite ranks

Let G be the free product of nilpotent groups A and B of finite rank with amalgamated cyclic subgroup H, H ≠ A and H ≠ B. Suppose that, for some set π of primes, the groups A and B are residually F_π, where F_π is the class of all finite p-groups. We prove that G is residually F_π if and only if H is F_π-separable in A and B.